See deadly plane crash debris on the median of Interstate 195
Two people have died after a plane crashed on a major Massachusetts highway, according to state police.
Two people have died after a plane crashed on a major Massachusetts highway during a nor’easter on Oct. 13.
At around 8:15 a.m. local time, a fixed-wing airplane crashed on the median of Interstate 195 in Dartmouth, a city in southwestern Massachusetts, just miles from the Rhode Island border. The plane caught fire on the ground, according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police.
Two people on board the plane died in the crash. One person on the ground sustained injuries in the incident, though the severity of their injuries is unknown. They were transported in a passenger car to a local hospital, police said.
Police believe the plane may have been attempting to land at nearby New Bedford Regional Airport. It does not appear the pilot provided the airport with a flight plan or the number of people on board the aircraft, according to police.
Massachusetts highway shut down after plane crashes on median
Part of I-195 in Dartmouth was closed in both directions, as of 10:25 a.m. local time, to secure the scene, according to state police. The crash occurred at Exit 19 and the closure begins at Exit 22 in both north and southbound directions, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration will likely begin an investigation into the crash, police said.
“No further information is available regarding the identities of the victims, the circumstances of the crash, or the timing of the roadway reopening to normal traffic,” state police said in a statement.
Video shows plane on fire after crash on MA highway
Videos captured by local passersby showed a small aircraft partially mangled as smoke and flames emanated from the debris.
A slew of first responders and police vehicles were also at the scene, according to witness videos.
East Coast hit with nor’easter winds, rain amid plane crash
The fatal incident occurred as Massachusetts is experiencing heavy winds and rain from a nor’easter along the Mid-Atlantic coast.
It’s unclear if weather conditions played a factor in the crash.
According to the National Weather Service’s Boston office, the storm is bringing potential for heavy rain, strong winds and minor coastal flooding to the area throughout the day and into night on Monday, Oct. 13. Lighter winds and rain were expected to linger into Oct. 14.
Winds at New Bedford Regional Airport were measured at more than 30 mph, as of 11 a.m. local time, according to NWS.
As of 11 a.m. local time, FlightAware showed delays for both inbound and outbound flights at Boston Logan Airport because of low visibility.
At New Bedford Regional Airport, there were only about a dozen flights scheduled for Oct. 13, and most of them appeared to be operating as normal, per FlightAware.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
